Historia de regibus Gothorum, Vandalorum et Suevorum
Encyclopedia
The Historia Gothorum, (Vandalorum et Suevorum) ("History [of the Kings] of the Goths[, Vandals and Suevi]") is a Latin
history of the Goths
from 265 to 624, written by Isidore of Seville
. It is a condensed account and, due to its diverse sources, somewhat inconsistent. The history of the Vandals
is appended after that of the Goths, followed by a separate history of the Suevi.
Isidore begins his history with a prologue, "Laus Spaniae", praising the virtues of Spain
. It is here that he invents the phrase mater Spania (mother Spain). The rest of the work elaborates and defends the Gothic identity of a unified Spain. Isidore uses the Spanish era
for dating throughout. The main source for his early history was Jerome
's continuation of Eusebius to the year 378. From there he used primarily Orosius (to 417) and, for Spain, Hydatius
(to 469). For his later history he relies on Prosper Tiro's continuation of Jerome (405–53). Victor of Tununa is his primary African witness for the years 444 to 566 and John of Biclar for recent Spanish history (565–90). Isidore also made use of a partially lost chronicle of Maximus of Zaragoza. For events in Spain between 590 and 624 Isidore is the modern historian's primary source.
The Historia was composed in two versions, both surviving. The first, completed probably in 619, the year of the death of king Sisebut, is shorter. The longer version was probably completed in 624, in the fifth year of the reign of Suinthila. Only the longer version contains the "Laus Spaniae" and the "Laus Gothorum", a eulogy of the Goths, which divides the Goths' history (to the reign of Suinthila) from that of the Vandals. The edition of the longer version by Theodor Mommsen
is the standard and was the basis of the first English translation. The Historia was previously translated into German.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
history of the Goths
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
from 265 to 624, written by Isidore of Seville
Isidore of Seville
Saint Isidore of Seville served as Archbishop of Seville for more than three decades and is considered, as the historian Montalembert put it in an oft-quoted phrase, "le dernier savant du monde ancien"...
. It is a condensed account and, due to its diverse sources, somewhat inconsistent. The history of the Vandals
Vandals
The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century. The Vandals under king Genseric entered Africa in 429 and by 439 established a kingdom which included the Roman Africa province, besides the islands of Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics....
is appended after that of the Goths, followed by a separate history of the Suevi.
Isidore begins his history with a prologue, "Laus Spaniae", praising the virtues of Spain
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
. It is here that he invents the phrase mater Spania (mother Spain). The rest of the work elaborates and defends the Gothic identity of a unified Spain. Isidore uses the Spanish era
Spanish era
The Spanish era, Hispanic era or Caesar era refers to the dating system used in Hispania until the 14th century, when the Anno Domini system was adopted. It began with year one in what is 38 BC, probably the date of a new tax imposed by the Roman Republic on the subdued population of Iberia....
for dating throughout. The main source for his early history was Jerome
Jerome
Saint Jerome was a Roman Christian priest, confessor, theologian and historian, and who became a Doctor of the Church. He was the son of Eusebius, of the city of Stridon, which was on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia...
's continuation of Eusebius to the year 378. From there he used primarily Orosius (to 417) and, for Spain, Hydatius
Hydatius
Hydatius or Idacius , bishop of Aquae Flaviae in the Roman province of Gallaecia was the author of a chronicle of his own times that provides us with our best evidence for the history of the Iberian Peninsula in the 5th century.-Life:Hydatius was born around the year 400 in the...
(to 469). For his later history he relies on Prosper Tiro's continuation of Jerome (405–53). Victor of Tununa is his primary African witness for the years 444 to 566 and John of Biclar for recent Spanish history (565–90). Isidore also made use of a partially lost chronicle of Maximus of Zaragoza. For events in Spain between 590 and 624 Isidore is the modern historian's primary source.
The Historia was composed in two versions, both surviving. The first, completed probably in 619, the year of the death of king Sisebut, is shorter. The longer version was probably completed in 624, in the fifth year of the reign of Suinthila. Only the longer version contains the "Laus Spaniae" and the "Laus Gothorum", a eulogy of the Goths, which divides the Goths' history (to the reign of Suinthila) from that of the Vandals. The edition of the longer version by Theodor Mommsen
Theodor Mommsen
Christian Matthias Theodor Mommsen was a German classical scholar, historian, jurist, journalist, politician, archaeologist, and writer generally regarded as the greatest classicist of the 19th century. His work regarding Roman history is still of fundamental importance for contemporary research...
is the standard and was the basis of the first English translation. The Historia was previously translated into German.